On March 16, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Housing and Communal Services Workers, while the rest of the world celebrates Freedom of Information Day, Black Press Day, and No Selfie Day. Also, March 16 is a date that absorbed a lot of significant and interesting events that influenced the history of mankind, shaped the course of civilizational development and left a significant mark in the memory of peoples.
Day of housing and communal services workers and household services of the population
Every year, on the third Sunday of March, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Housing and Communal Services Workers. The holiday was established by the Decree of the President of Ukraine in 1994, which emphasizes the importance of this profession for the state. This is a professional holiday of people who daily provide a comfortable, clean and safe environment for the life of citizens, take care of the improvement of cities and villages, adjust the operation of residential facilities, transport, water supply, electricity supply and other vital systems.
This day is an opportunity to express gratitude to employees who, despite any difficulties, perform their work with responsibility and professionalism. Their work often goes unnoticed, but it is thanks to them that homes have heat, water, light, and city streets are kept in good condition.
In the conditions of war, the workers of housing and communal services show true heroism. They clear debris after shelling, restore destroyed infrastructure, ensure uninterrupted operation of water supply, heat supply and electricity systems. It is thanks to their dedicated work that cities remain clean and functional, even in the most difficult times.
Despite the complex nature of the work, including weather conditions, emergency situations and military challenges, these professionals are the first to respond to challenges and work to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.
Freedom of Information Day
This day is dedicated to achieving and promoting transparency and openness of government. The holiday was started in 1989 at the initiative of the Committee of Journalists for Freedom of the Press, a non-profit organization that advocates freedom of the press and access to government information. It was on this day that James Madison was born, who is considered the “father” of the US Constitution and an active supporter of government transparency. His ideas about openness and access to information became fundamental for the development of a democratic society.
Freedom of information is one of the basic human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This right allows citizens to receive information about the activities of authorities, which is a necessary condition for the functioning of a democratic society. Free access to information promotes transparency, prevents corruption, and strengthens public control over government.
In Ukraine, the right to access to public information is guaranteed by the Constitution and the Law “On Access to Public Information”. This law establishes the procedure for obtaining information, the obligations of state bodies regarding its provision, and defines restrictions for the protection of national security or private life of citizens.
This day reminds of the importance of observing the principles of openness and transparency, as well as the responsibility of state bodies in ensuring access to public information. Civil society organizations, journalists and activists use this date to draw attention to problems in the field of access to information, calling for improved legislation and practices.
Black press day
It is a day to recognize the important contributions of African-American owned and operated newspapers, magazines and other media in the struggle for equality, justice and civil rights.
The history of this day began in 1827, when the first African-American newspaper Freedom’s Journal was founded in New York. It was created by John Russworm and Samuel Cornish to counter the racist stereotypes prevalent in the press at the time and to provide a voice for the black community. They sought to defend the rights of African Americans, talk about their achievements, problems and current events.
The black press played a significant role in covering issues of racial discrimination, fighting for human rights, covering the civil rights movement in the United States, and supporting communities facing inequality. It became an important tool in the formation of national consciousness and the strengthening of the influence of the African-American community.
Today, Black Press Day is a reminder of the power of a free press in defending rights and freedoms, as well as the contribution of journalists who, despite obstacles, continue to cover the problems of their communities, fight for equality and change society for the better.
Interesting facts
Freedom’s Journal, the first African-American newspaper in the United States, was only published for two years, but its impact on society was enormous, because it gave a voice to those who were deprived of the opportunity to express themselves.
One of the most famous and influential newspapers of the black press was the Chicago Defender, founded in 1905. She actively supported the Great Migration of African Americans from the southern states to the northern United States in search of better living conditions.
In the 1940s, the black press played a key role in supporting the “Double V” campaign (victory against fascism abroad and racism at home) during World War II.
Today, there are more than 200 black-owned publications in the United States that continue to work to protect the interests of their communities.
A day without selfies
This is an unofficial holiday, the purpose of which is to call people to put down their smartphones, refrain from creating self-portraits for a while and think about the meaning of moments in real life. A day without selfies is a reminder of the importance of live communication, deeply experiencing moments without the need to capture them on camera. This is an opportunity to focus on the present, observe, listen and feel more.
Selfies have become an integral part of modern culture, a symbol of self-expression and capturing special moments. However, sometimes the desire to take the perfect photo distracts from real emotions, communication and enjoyment of the moment. In addition, addiction to selfies can affect self-esteem, cause anxiety and distorted perception of reality.
Interesting facts
The word “selfie” was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013.
According to statistics, the average person takes about 450 selfies a year.
Some tourist sites in the world have introduced restrictions on selfies due to security threats and damage to historical monuments.
There is a phenomenon of “selfie addiction”, when the desire to take the perfect photo becomes obsessive and affects mental health.
Historical events on this day
587 to n. is. – Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II captured Jerusalem. This event marked the beginning of the Babylonian captivity for the Jewish people, which had a significant impact on the subsequent history of Judaism.
870 — the Orthodox Church was founded in Bulgaria. This laid the foundation for the development of Christianity in the Balkans, contributed to the strengthening of the national identity of the Bulgarian people and the cultural development of the region.
1521 — during the first round-the-world voyage, the Portuguese navigator Fernan Magellan reached the shores of the modern Philippines. This expedition opened new horizons for European navigation and geographical research.
1801 — the British battleship Invincible was wrecked. This tragedy took the lives of about 400 people and became one of the symbols of maritime disasters of that time.
1880 — the Ukrainian poet Ivan Franko was arrested on suspicion of revolutionary agitation. This arrest became one of the manifestations of the struggle of the tsarist authorities against the national liberation movement in Ukraine.
1935 — in Nazi Germany, the Wehrmacht was created and general military service was introduced, which violated the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. This step became one of the prerequisites of the Second World War.
1962 — Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev announced that the USSR had an intercontinental missile. This became the next stage of the arms race during the Cold War and the escalation of nuclear confrontation.
1963 — a volcanic eruption occurred in Bali, which resulted in the death of at least 1,700 people. This disaster reminded of the power of natural forces and their impact on human life.
1978 — in Rome, radicals from the “Red Brigades” group kidnapped the famous politician Aldo Moro. He was assassinated 54 days later, a tragic symbol of political violence in Italy.
1988 — the Iraqi army carried out a gas attack on the Kurdish city of Halabja during the Iran-Iraq war. Several thousand people died, making it one of the most brutal acts of genocide in modern history.
1998 — Pope John Paul II publicly apologized for the inaction and silence of many Catholics during the Holocaust. This was an important step in reconciliation and recognition of historical mistakes.
March 16, 2014 an event took place that changed not only the fate of Crimea, but also the future of all of Ukraine. The official name is the “all-Crimean referendum”, which was announced as a vote on the future status and state ownership of the peninsula. The Verkhovna Rada of Crimea adopted the decision to hold this “referendum” on February 27, 2014. It is important to note that at that time the parliament building was already occupied by armed persons without identification marks, who later became known as “little green men”.
The referendum was held in violation of the Constitution of Ukraine, which does not provide for the possibility of regional referendums and specifies that territorial issues can be decided only in an all-Ukrainian referendum. The capture of the territory was accompanied by the support of the Russian military. Already on March 18, 2014, Crimea was illegally annexed by Russia. This event became not only a political instrument of conquest, but also one of the key factors that led to the war in eastern Ukraine.
March 16, 2022 another terrible tragedy entered the history of Ukraine. During the siege of Mariupol, Russian aviation carried out an airstrike on the city’s Drama Theater. About 1,200 civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, were hiding in the theater building at the time of the attack. Despite large “CHILDREN” signs near the building, which were supposed to signal the presence of civilians, the theater became a target for destruction. According to various estimates, from 300 to 600 people died.
This tragedy became a symbol of cruelty and war crimes committed by Russian troops against the Ukrainian people. Eyewitnesses testified that shelters were destroyed after the airstrike, people were left under rubble, and many died without waiting for help. The city remained surrounded, under constant shelling, without access to water, food and medicine.
The troops defending Mariupol were called upon to help bring the city out of the blockade. They emphasized that they do not want to be heroes or martyrs posthumously, but strive to save the lives of civilians. This event once again showed that true heroism consists not only in defense, but also in the desire to preserve the lives of the innocent.
On the same day, Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe, which was the result of aggressive actions against Ukraine and massive violations of human rights.
Birthday of the writer Khrystyna
On March 16, 1882, in Kharkiv, in the merchant family of Oleksiy and Khrystyna Alchevsky, daughter Khrystyna was born – a future writer, teacher, translator and poet. The family lived on Zhon-Myronositsy Street, in building No. 13, which most Kharkiv residents know as “DK Militia” or “Alchevsky House”. By the way, such well-known figures as Felix Dzerzhynskyi, Anton Makarenko and other prominent figures of that time have repeatedly performed in this House of Culture.
Oleksiy Kyrylovych Alchevskyi was a well-known industrialist, banker and philanthropist. He financed the construction of hospitals, schools, and churches, spending more than 8 million rubles on charity in Kharkiv. In particular, on his initiative, the building of the Kharkiv Land Bank (architect Oleksiy Beketov) was built, which is now the Kharkiv Motor Vehicle Technical College on Constitution Square (formerly Mykolayivska Square). Among his achievements are the founding of the Alchevsk Metallurgical Combine and the Mariupol Metallurgical Combine, which have become important industrial facilities of Ukraine. He also founded the Donetsk-Yuriivka Metallurgical Society near the Yuryivka station, which actually marked the beginning of the development of the city of Alchevsk.
The poet’s mother, Khrystyna Danylivna, was a teacher who devoted her life to education and enlightenment. In 1862, she founded a famous Sunday school in Kharkiv, which existed until 1919. Thanks to the Alchevsky family, the world’s first monument to Taras Shevchenko appeared in Kharkiv. A marble bust of Academician Beklemishev was installed in 1898. According to one version, it was near the Alchevsky estate on Sadovo-Kulikivska Street (modern Darwin Street), according to another, it was near the building on Zhon-Myronositsy Street, 9, which was built by the Beketovs in 1896 for a Sunday school (now the Kharkiv Art Museum).
Khrystyna Oleksiivna Alchevska was not only a writer, but also an active public figure. She communicated with such famous figures as Mykhailo Kotsyubynskyi, Lesya Ukrainka, Vasyl Stefanyk, Mykhailo Starytskyi, Olga Kobylyanska. At the same time, Khrystyna was involved in the founding of the Revolutionary Ukrainian Party. Her revolutionary activity led to arrest and interrogation, in particular, she was accused of calling for an armed uprising. In 1918, during the occupation of Ukraine by Austro-German troops, she was arrested again, this time for “malicious internationalism and communist propaganda.”
However, the main work of her life remained poetry and translations. Khrystyna Alchevska translated works into Ukrainian, French, Polish, German and Russian. Among her translations are poems by Alexander Pushkin, Kondratius Ryleev, Pierre-Jean Beranger, works by Voltaire, Alexei Tolstoy, Mykola Ogaryov, Victor Hugo, Jules Verne. Her translations of Ivan Franko’s works into Russian, as well as French translations of Taras Shevchenko’s, Ivan Franko’s, and Pavlo Tychyna’s works are of great importance.
In 1982, on the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Khrystyna Oleksiivna Alchevska, UNESCO included her name in the calendar of commemorative dates, noting her significant contribution to the development of culture, education and literature.
The butterfly effect is a very real and at the same time unpredictable phenomenon, when one event can affect the course of history, change the destinies of entire nations and countries. March 16 is a date that entered the modern history of Ukraine with two tragic events that had far-reaching consequences.
